Christmas 2024

Christmas is a popular and most celebrated Christian festival. The day is celebrated in the honor of birth of Jesus Christ, who is believed to be the son of God. The festival is celebrated on 25th December every year. The word Christmas originates from ‘Ctistes Maesses’, an early English phrase that stands for the mass of Christ. It is the most celebrated festival for friends and families to exchange gifts and get together. It is a gazetted holiday and celebrated across the nation with happiness and joy. In most of the countries, 25 December is declared as a national holiday including India.

The celebration of Christmas consisted of exhibition of sights, the arrival of Santa Claus and decoration of Christmas trees. It is celebrated in all corners of the world with love and happiness. People decorate their houses, visit church to pray, and light candles. Besides this, christians prepare cake and other delicacies on this special day.

How do people celebrate Christmas?

Christmas is a special day for Christians who like to spend their day with family, relatives, and friends. People attend special day, go to church, attend special church service and eat festive meal and wear beautiful dresses. Christmas carols are sung and special spiritual services are served. People decorate their houses with flowers, Christmas trees, exhibit electric lamps, and decorate house with banana and mango leaves.

In some parts of the world including India, Christmas trees are imitation of pine trees. Malls and shops put up Christmas decorations to attract customer’s attention. In fact, in some of the shopping places Santa Clause give candies to customers. Churches in different countries hold evening amenities before the Christmas day and at midnight various churches conduct special candlelight amenities. Santa Clause is a must to have character in the entire celebration. Santa gets special love from children as it fulfills their wishes by giving gifts to them.

Know More about Christmas

On Christmas, all states, local banks, national banks and offices remain close. All the business and store owners of Christian religion keep their stores closed so that festival can be enjoyed to its fullest. Most people believe that Jesus Christ was born on 25 December but actually his birth date is still unproven. In India, most of the christians live in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Goa.

Suggested Places to Visit during Christmas

 Here are the top destinations to celebrate Christmas:

• Shillong: Shillong has a Cathedral Church, one of the oldest churches in North East India. The people from different parts of the world visit the city to attend the Midnight Mass.
• Mumbai: Mumbai is the most visited destination in India to celebrate Christmas. Malls offer attractive discounts etc at Bandra, Hill Road and Church Gate. These are some of the best places to celebrate Christmas in the city.
• Pondicherry: Pondicherry is one of the country’s finest places for celebrating the traditional festival of Christmas. The city is fully decorated and gets into festive mood.
• Lansdowne: Lansdowne is another suggested destination to celebrate the festival of Christmas. The place is considered away from the madding crowd of city life. Mostly, city people have inclination for this place to spend a time in serene and natural beauty. 
• Kerala: Kerala, God’s own country, celebrate Christmas in a special way. Every street is beautifully decorated, which in turn enlighten the mood of the people.

Know the Christmas Facts

Children will love to know the facts of Christmas. Check below:

• The birth of Lord Christ: Christmas falls on 25 December every year and marks the birth of Lord Jesus. 
• Christmas trees First Used by ancient Egyptians and Romans: The use and origin of Christmas tree started by ancient Egyptians and Romans. They used evergreen trees such as fir or pine trees, garlands, and decorations. Later the use of modern Christmas trees started in Germany in 16th century. Today, Christmas tree is decorated with star, bells, Christmas socks, nuts and fruits.
• ‘Xmas’ simply means Christmas: The use of Xmas started in 16th century. The “X’ comes from the ancient Greek language. In Greek, Christ starts with letter X, thus Xmas means Christmas.
• Santa Claus but Sinterklaas in Dutch: The character of Santa Claus is based on St. Nicholas. According to a legend, St. Nicholas was a Christian bishop who loves to donate food and other things to needy. He had a special love for children and gives them gifts secretly. As, his story spread and over and was called Sinterklaas in Dutch, which later became Santa Claus.
• Santa Claus is not always dressing up in red: Santa Claus in the beginning wear in green, purple, or blue. And it was the common theme for jolly old man at the North Pole. Later, Coca Cola decided to dress him in colors that matched their brand. From the day, Santa Claus always read clothes.
• Baby Jesus Received gifts when he was born: When Jesus was born; a bright star appears in the sky. Three kings followed this star and made a long journey to his birthplace.
• Carolling based on wassailing: Have you ever thought why people go door to door singing carols? This is an English custom of wassailing, a tradition to toast to someone’s good health and fortune. St. Francis of Assisi changed this tradition to carolling.
• Santa also gets gifts: We all know that Santa comes home with gifts for children. But do you know Santa get gifts as well. He loves to get cookies and milk during his trip around the world.